Dunstable Kingsbury

Has been described as a Possible Palace (Royal)

There are no visible remains

NameDunstable Kingsbury
Alternative Names
Historic CountryBedfordshire
Modern AuthorityBedfordshire
1974 AuthorityBedfordshire
Civil ParishDunstable

The site of a house or palace belonging to the King. Documents refer to Henry I having built the house and spending Christmas there in 1123 and 1132. The lands attached to the house were granted by Henry to the Augustinian Priory of Dunstable when he founded it in 1131/2, but the Charter specifies that he retained the house and garden. King John gave the house to the Priory in 1204. By the time of the Dissolution, the house had become a farmhouse and is later referred to by the name Kingsbury. The house was restored in the early 20th century, and its barn converted for use as the town museum. In 1934 it was sold and divided up into the Old Palace Lodge (which became a hotel in 1960), Kingsbury Stables (which became the Norman King public house in 1961) and Kingsbury Court.

There are now no visible remains of the palace. (Bedfordshire HER)

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL019217
Latitude51.8870697021484
Longitude-0.51774001121521
Eastings501900
Northings221700
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works Vol. 2: the Middle Ages (London: HMSO) p. 924-5
  • Page, Wm (ed), 1912, 'Parishes: Dunstable' VCH Bedfordshire Vol. 3 p. 351 online transcription

Antiquarian

Journals

  • Curran, Joan, 1977, 'The Old Palace Lodge' Dunstable & District Local History Society Newsletter online copy
  • 1967-9, Bedfordshire magazine Vol. 11 p. 212-16, 237-43, 306-13, 353-58
  • 1816, The Gentleman's Magazine Vol. 86 Part 2 p. 393 online copy

Other

  • Albion Archaeology, 2003 (edited January 2005), Extensive Urban Survey - Bedfordshire and Luton (Bedfordshire County Council and English Heritage) Download copy